'Mick will be hurting' - Neil Warnock's verdict on Cardiff City's grim plight as he claims win over Middlesbrough could change it all
Cardiff come face to face with their former manager this weekend and need a win now more than ever
Friday 22nd October 2021
Neil Warnock believes that if Cardiff City beat Middlesbrough on Saturday it could change the entire landscape for Mick McCarthy.
The Bluebirds boss finds himself under immense pressure after presiding over Cardiff's worst losing streak since 1933, having seen his side lose their seventh game in a row against Fulham on Wednesday.
Warnock achieved legendary status during his three years in charge of the Bluebirds and understands more than most how heavy a toll it takes on you to manage a club where the fan base is so passionate.
And the Boro boss, who is close friends with McCarthy, of course, has said his friend will be hurting amid this nightmare run of results.
NEIL WARNOCK:
"I've been down there, there's a lot of passion," Warnock said of Cardiff and the pressure McCarthy faces.
"Mick will be hurting as much as anybody with the results they've had.
"He'll think tomorrow is a good opportunity. He'll have watched us at Hull and think this is the type of team we need here to get back to winning ways.
"But it works both ways, we have to be ready and try to give them problems."
McCarthy insisted he does not read the papers, listen to the radio or watch TV shows he believes will be speaking negatively about him and his side.
But Warnock, who was known for reading message boards and fan forums as well as avidly reading newspaper articles about his City side when he was in the Welsh capital, believes you cannot ignore it completely.
The Boro boss did, however, warn supporters to be careful what they wish for pertaining to wanting McCarthy out of the club.
"I don't think you can cut yourself off (from online abuse)," he added. "You say you can but you can't. It hurts, it really hurts when you read things in the newspaper or listen on the radio. I don't read as many message boards as I used to.
"When I was at Cardiff I had three great years. We did things we shouldn't have done. Getting promoted with that squad was as good as anything I've done. I always said, if the time comes when the fans don't want me, I don't need it.
"But I always say be careful what you wish for. If it's the minority who wanted me out, it would be interesting to see who they'd want to come in and take over at this moment in time."
Warnock comes back to Cardiff City Stadium for the first time with supporters back inside the ground, having played behind closed doors last term.
On the reception he expects to receive, he said: "Mick will expect me to get a good reception because I've never been able to say goodbye to the Bluebirds.
"It's difficult for him at the time, but he's a good guy as well as a good manager, he'll be concentrating on spoiling our day."
Cardiff have never truly managed to rebuild the squad that Warnock assembled to take them up to the Premier League.
Indeed, only captain Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls remain from the side which achieved promotion during that 2017/18 season. That draw against Reading remains Warnock's high point of his time with the Bluebirds.
"The whistle against Reading at home," the manager said of his favourite moment in charge of Cardiff. "I'll never forget walking around with Sharon and they asked her for an autograph!
"We had a fabulous time there. You know, it was a miracle to get promotion with that squad.
"You had the teams chasing us, it was good to prove a few people wrong that year. It was a group of lads very similar to the ones I have here, very genuine. I'll never forget my time there.
"My chairman, Mehmet Dalman was unbelievable. I wouldn't have had the success without him, he was amazing, and still a friend."
Warnock will no doubt be greeted by a hero's welcome and McCarthy fully expects that.
But once the first whistle blows, it's all about felling Warnock's men and trying to kickstart something - anything - after this grim run of results.
And Warnock believes that if Cardiff manage to claim the Boro scalp tomorrow, it might just prove to be a turning point.
"We all know the industry we're in," he added. "We all know what's around the corner. Everybody has a bad spell.
"I have to enjoy it now. I'm on my last lap and I'll do as well as I can. I'll do the best I can for Middlesbrough. Steve Gibson has been amazing, and the fans. You will always get a minority.
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